Luttrell continues to build pile of cash, at nearly one-third of a million

Some three weeks before the Democratic primary in the race for Shelby County mayor, Steve Mulroy has taken a sizable advantage in financial resources, according to recently filed campaign financial disclosures.

Mulroy reported his campaign as having $65,038 as of March 31, the last date of the most recent disclosure period. Deidre Malone reported $17,972 in her account. The other Democratic candidate, Kenneth T. Whalum Jr., had not yet filed a form as of Monday afternoon but sent The Commercial Appeal a scanned copy of a report reflecting a $350 balance.

The filings were due last week.

The winner of the Democratic primary faces an uphill financial climb, though. Incumbent Republican Mark Luttrell reported nearly one third of a million dollars — $327,018, to be exact — in his campaign as of March 31.

That marks a $56,107 gain since the last reporting period, which ended in mid-January.

Mulroy had previously reported $54,522 on hand in mid-February, then added $16,520 in donations and $6,004 in expenses by the end of March. Part of his cash is a $20,000 loan from himself.

In a previous interview, Mulroy had said he thought it would take $200,000 to defeat Luttrell in the general election, and that's with Mulroy expecting Luttrell to outspend him, should he win the nomination, by a ratio of 2-to-1.

Malone reported receiving $36,405 between June 28, 2013 and March 31, 2014 and spending $18,433 in the same time period. That left her with a balance of $17,972 as of last Wednesday, when she signed the report.

Notable contributors to Malone's campaign included former Memphis City Schools board member and Congressional candidate Tomeka Hart, County Commissioners Sidney Chism and Henri Brooks, state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, the campaign account of state Sens. Reginald Tate and Lowe Finney and the campaign accounts of City Council members Harold Collins and Myron Lowery.

Malone also reported $22,049 in in-kind contributions, the large majority listed as coming from herself and her husband. Patrick Malone's $10,000 contribution was listed as "polling and collateral material" and Deidre Malone's $10,000 contribution was listed as "collateral material."

In late February, Malone told The Commercial Appeal she had raised about $60,000. Asked to reconcile that with her current total, she indicated that some of those were commitments that the campaign is trying to convert to cash.

"The $36,000 is actually checks in the bank," she said.

Early voting in the primary begins Wednesday.

Luttrell does have a Republican challenger, perennial candidate Ernest Lunati. He reported a $0 balance as of March 31.

In the DA race: Republican Amy Weirich and Democrat Joe Brown are the only two primary candidates, thus leaving the May 6 ballot inconsequential. Yet the two candidates' recent filings with the state showed a sizable gap.

In preparation for the Aug. 7 race, Weirich reported $155,740 in a report submitted April 8. Brown's filing reflects that he has a balance of $0.

Early voting begins Wednesday

Early voting for the county primary begins Wednesday at the Downtown location, 157 Poplar. Voting begins at 10 a.m. and runs through 7 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

It's the only place to vote early until April 25, when voting begins at 20 more satellite locations. Early voting ends at all locations on May 1. Primary election day is May 6.

The Shelby County Election Commission board approved early voting locations and hours, said Suzanne Thompson, a spokesperson for the SCEC. She cited cost figures that estimated an expense of about $2,000 per day per satellite location.

"Basically, it's a matter of using your resources wisely," Richard Holden, county elections administrator, said in an email from Thompson, who said the commission anticipates having more early locations open for August and November elections.